Estate Planning

Estate planning is creating a living document that is designed to arrange for the distribution of your assets in your absence. Its purposes are to eliminate uncertainties over the administration of your estate, maximize the value of your estate and protect your family from third-party interference.

Although estate planning is a necessity in this day and age, many people avoid dealing with this unappealing task. Unfortunately, the absence of an estate plan often causes family disputes and results in lawyers and the government getting the lion’s share of the estate.

At Shillinger Law, we make the process of estate planning as simple and painless as possible. When you leave the work of drafting carefully worded wills and trusts to our dedicated experts, so you can have peace of mind knowing your future will unfold according to plan.

“It is estimated that 120,000,000 Americans do not have up-to-date estate plans to protect themselves and their families in the event of sickness, accidents, or untimely death.*”

Take the First Step to Protect Your Assets

Whatever your needs and desires are, you have to start somewhere. By contemplating the following questions, you’re taking the first step to protecting your assets and taking control of what ultimately happens to them:

Do You Have…

Children?

Cars?

Bank and/or credit card accounts?

A retirement account?

A home?

Do You Want

Burial/cremation?

Stay on life support?

Donate to your favorite charity or church?

Do you know…

Who should take care of your belongings?

Who you want to care for your children?

What you want done with your finances?

Who you want to have your pictures, family memories, jewelry, etc.?

We enjoy hearing from happy clients.

Does Your Estate Plan Need Updating? Find out what Dr. and Mrs. Flippin had to say about the process.

Dr. Arthur Flippin and his wife Sandra heard Löan speak at one of the Shillinger Law Resource Series sessions.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐”We were extremely pleased with the work Löan did with our estate planning. It was apparent that she really cared about helping us make sure our children are cared for no matter what. She took the time to explain every detail (several times, if necessary) so we really understood the process, and she made sure any concerns we had were addressed. I highly recommend her!”

– Kristi N.

Common Questions

By drafting well-tailored wills, trust, advance health care directives, power of attorneys and elections of guardianship – you’re making the decisions about your life and assets, not the court or third parties. You maintain control.

Estate planning tells people what to do with you and your belongs; it ensures your loved ones will have one less thing to think about during a difficult and emotional time. Your plan will be their guide to how and what they should do with your possessions based on your wishes.

A common belief is that only rich people need estate planning. That’s wrong. Everyone should have an estate plan, since assets include:
— Car
— Jewelry
— Artwork
— Homes
— Furniture
— Family keepsakes
— Change in your pocket
— Most importantly, you and your family

2. A will alone is sufficient estate planning.

That’s not entirely true. Since significant legal rules surround the creation of a will and it should be updated regularly, it’s not recommended that a will be your only estate planning document. A will should be considered only as a part of the estate planning process. Estate planning also involves financial, tax, medical and business planning.

3. The property and belongs I own will automatically go to my family.

Not true. We live in a highly litigious world. Banks and other institutions will not release your belongings without the proper documents that release them of legal liability, which may include estate planning documents or court instructions probate. Additionally, if you die intestate (without a will/ trust/ estate plan), the court will assign an administrator to handle your assets and personal care. Your assets will be distributed to your heirs according to intestate succession.

Getting Started

Download and print one of the intake forms attached below before your consultation. It will speed up the process and can give you a good idea of how the process works.

Resources

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